“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” - Carl Jung
Grief and trauma are inevitable aspects of the human experience, yet they often leave us feeling isolated and lost in the darkness. In our society, many people avoid their grief and trauma to keep up with the demands of daily life. Over time, this avoidance can lead to neurological, biological, and physiological responses that defy logic and disrupt our lives and well-being. At LIGHT Movement (Love in Grief, Held Together), we believe that holding each other in our grief is crucial for finding the light within ourselves and our community. Our mission is to remind people that they are not alone in their grief, teach somatic mind-body tools for integration, provide grief resources and support, and stand in solidarity with all forms of grief. By embarking on a shared journey to integrate our grief, we can begin to find purpose and meaning in our suffering. Paradoxically, by embracing our darkness, we find the light within ourselves.
The ancient concept of yin and yang teaches us that there is light within the darkness and darkness within the light. Embracing both the light and dark aspects of ourselves is essential for healing and integration. As Carl Jung said, "One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious." Sometimes, we fear facing the monsters lurking in the dark caves of our grief and trauma; these monsters might represent feelings of horror, numbness, overwhelm, shock, denial, guilt, sadness, and anger that we would rather avoid. However, when we have a supportive community to hold us, we find the courage to face our grief. In the process, we realize that our darkness holds our greatest potential for growth and transformation. Over time, we find jewels of wisdom and insight in our darkness that we can carry into the light. These insights become sources of strength and resilience, helping us navigate life with deeper understanding and compassion for ourselves and others.
The more we invest in embracing and integrating our grief, the more we grow our internal escrow of light that we can share with others as they navigate their own darkness. This inner work is not selfish; it is necessary for healing ourselves, our families, our communities, and the planet. At LIGHT Movement, we help you navigate this journey by lovingly holding each other in our grief. By doing this, we grow to become the most authentic, expansive versions of ourselves and give each other permission to do the same. Together, we can find the light within the darkness and transform our grief into a source of strength, wisdom, and connection. By embarking on this journey, we not only heal ourselves, but we also create waves of healing and light that extend to those around us. Together, we can embrace the full spectrum of our shared human experiences and stand united in our grief.
Feel free to reach out to the LIGHT Movement for support and resources. You are not alone in this journey, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
Allie McDonald, RYT-500, TCTSY-F, Army veteran, and MSW student, has been a yoga teacher for seven years and a trauma sensitive yoga facilitator (TCTSY-F) since 2023. Allie brings a trauma-sensitive approach to her practice, and believes that reconnecting with the body is the path toward empowerment; not just on an individual level, but on a global level. She focuses on helping practitioners use intentional, non-coercive language to support their clients/students/participants.
Allie has helped develop and will co-teach two different trainings this fall: 40-Hour Embodied Yoga Training: Moving with our Grief & 20-Hour Somatic Healing Training: Growing with our Grief. Learn about LIGHT's October trainings by following the link below.
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